L’Equipe Names Best XI of 2008

By: chris | December 29th, 2008

Although less a “Best of XI” and more a “Best of Barca, Spain & ManU”. As is the case with so many year-end top whatever lists, they seem to have merely taken the best players off the best teams of 2008. Not that most aren’t deserving, simply that there is surely some wiggle room and grounds for debate. But isn’t that the point behind “best of” lists?

And once again, the French cannot be accused of hometown (or country) favoritism. No Frenchies to be found from the journalistas here.

Journos’ XI

Casillas – Dani Alves, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra – Lionel Messi, Xavi, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fernando Torres

Fans’ XI

Casillas (17, 963 votes) – Sergio Ramos (17, 828), John Terry (16, 953), Rio Ferdinand (15, 148), Philipp Lahm (19, 526) – Dani Alves (12, 953), Steven Gerrard (28, 418), Kaka (12, 876), Franck Ribery (29, 601) – Lionel Messi (25, 073), Cristiano Ronaldo (26, 728)

The fans’ XI looks an awful lot like, well, a fans’ XI - though Ribery is probably due an explanation from the journalists, particularly if they have no real care for workable tactics. Speaking of workable tactics…not a lot of budding managers in France, eh?

Without an international tournament to speak of in the summer - at least not involving European teams - you have to wonder if the 2009 year-end lists, provided things stay status quo, will look an awful lot like a Barca XI?

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Category: World Football

Tags: Best XI 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dani Alves, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas, Lionel Messi, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, World Football, Xavi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Comments  

• Rob |  December 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  
  
  

  Still wondering exactly why gerrard turns up in all these lists.

  Posted from United States

  

• wiggins |  December 29th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

  
  
  

  I hear he has a mean right hook!

  Posted from United States

  

• Gevorg |  December 29th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

  
  
  

  Vhy isn’t Villa there?

  Posted from United States

  

• jimmy |  December 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

  
  
  

  maybe that’s what the scuffle was all about. being an inter fan i’m biased but i reckon by year’s end there might be maicon in there.

  Posted from Malta

  

• alessio |  December 29th, 2008 at 1:29 pm

  
  
  

  I’m a Juventino and I think he should be in there.

  Posted from United States

  

• Traian |  December 29th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

  
  
  

  Maicon? Oh no, please…Zlatan is enough. Well deserved, but enough…

  Posted from United States

  

• Ak |  December 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

  
  
  

  Wait a minute, isn’t Evra French?

  Posted from United States

  

• Jean-Michel |  December 29th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

  
  
  

  Yes he is.

  Posted from United States

  

• ochko |  December 29th, 2008 at 10:27 pm

  
  
  

  why aren’t kaka,pirlo,dinho,villa,vdv,ramos,lampard,joe,cannavaro,fabregas,nani,del piero,arshavin there?????????????
  they’re fantastic,unstoppable,excellent players

  Posted from Mongolia

  

• chris |  December 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am

  
  
  

  Of course Evra is French. I knew that. Just me + flu didn’t know that.

  Posted from United States

  

• Alex |  December 31st, 2008 at 12:40 pm

  
  
  

  terry?????????????? please!!!

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed